Edith responded by running across the room to Mrs. Constant, crying:
“Why, Blanche!”
All this was very surprising to Nick, who could not imagine how it was that his wife knew his client.
But, as he listened, he found that before Edith’s marriage Mrs. Constant had been a member of the same theatrical company with Edith, and, like Edith, had left the stage when she married.
Then that which had before puzzled him was made plain.
He knew that he had seen Mrs. Constant before when presented to her by the banker at the dog show. It was all explained. He had seen her on the stage as Blanche Romney.
When at length the ladies had finished their renewal of old times, Mrs. Constant turned to that which had brought her to Nick.
“I hardly know how to begin my story, Mr. Carter,” she said, “but I will tell you how I came to be an exhibitor of dogs at the show. My late husband was much interested in developing a certain strain of setters.
“As I am a great lover of dogs, I took a vast interest in the kennel, and soon came to know quite as much about it as he, taking my part in the management and supervision of it.
“I came to know what he was striving to do, and so, when he died and left all his dogs to me, I determined to carry out his plans and continue the kennel.